Antioch University Scholars and Alumni at the Upcoming 50th Anniversary Conference
Fifty years ago, Jean Baker Miller published Toward a New Psychology of Women, a groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT), centering the idea that human beings grow most fully through connection with each other. This fall, from October 16–18, scholars, clinicians, educators, and organizational leaders will gather at Wellesley College for a landmark conference honoring the 50th anniversary of Jean Baker Miller’s seminal text while exploring RCT’s future. At this conference, titled, Toward a New Psychology of Women: 50 Years of Connection, Courage, and Change, members of the Antioch University community will join founding RCT scholars and leading voices in the field to explore the ongoing evolution of RCT through scholarship, mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community building.
Reflecting Antioch’s growing contribution in cultivating the future of RCT are Antioch faculty and alumni whose scholarship, leadership, and collaborative work continue to extend the theory into new disciplines and communities of practice. Central to this evolution is the work of Harriet Schwartz, PhD, lead scholar for Education and Relational Practice at the International Center for Growth in Connection (ICGC), and professor in Antioch University’s PhD in Leadership and Change program. At the conference, Harriet will deliver a keynote address, Learning is Movement: Shared Space, Curiosity & Connection in Times of Polycrisis, examining the power of relational healing in times of distress. Through her scholarship, teaching, and mentorship, Dr. Schwartz has helped develop a thriving community of RCT scholars both within Antioch and beyond. Her work reflects a deep commitment to creating relational spaces where emerging scholars can contribute to the ongoing evolution of Relational Cultural Theory.
Ileya Grosman, PhD, (C19) is one of the emerging RCT scholars facilitating a conference session. As the inaugural fellow at RCT@Antioch University, Grosman has played an essential role in facilitating opportunities for practitioner-scholars to engage in ongoing conversations about the role of RCT in personal and organizational change. Among these is her expert facilitation of the RCT Leadership and Change Affinity Group. To open the conference on the second day, Ileya will lead an experimental session designed to deepen understanding of relational connection through guided practice.
Alicia Wargo, PhD, (C20) will join Grosman and other RCT scholars in the session Connection in Action: Expanding the Reach of Relational Cultural Theory, a panel discussion highlighting innovative applications in of RCT clinical practice, education, leadership, and community-based work. Wargo will discuss how she is applying tenets of RCT in her practice as a social justice scholar and facilitator of racial equity work.
Antioch’s presence at the conference will extend beyond the presenters. Faculty, students, and alumni will participate throughout the conference, including Amy Rustein-Reily, PhD, Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. The conference will also feature keynote presentations from internationally recognized RCT scholars Maureen Walker, PhhD, and Amy Banks, MD, both of whom have generously shared their scholarship with the Antioch community in recent years. There will be poster board presentations for emerging scholars introducing new and creative approaches to understanding RCT.
As Relational-Cultural Theory enters its next fifty years, the conference offers more than an opportunity to celebrate its history. It invites scholars, practitioners, educators, and students to imagine together how RCT can continue to respond to the complex relational challenges of our time. Antioch University’s strong presence at this milestone gathering reflects its ongoing commitment to cultivating scholarship, leadership, and community that carry Jean Baker Miller’s vision forward.
Alicia Wargo
Alicia Wargo, PhD, is a 2025 graduate of Antioch’s Leadership and Change program. She is a social justice scholar, facilitator, and educator whose research uses RCT to explore how those with dominant identities can cultivate the humility and accountability necessary for effective multiracial coalition building. More information on her work can be found at www.draliciawargo.com.
